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"It’s really about finding the right balance of spending and saving that fits your unique budget and situation"

SAN FRANCISCO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--This holiday season, Americans are wishing for a better employment
picture for the United States, according to the latest quarterly pulse
survey from Charles Schwab and Co., Inc. Nearly half (46 percent) of
Americans wish to unwrap a lower unemployment rate for the country this
holiday season, followed by a substantial decrease in the national debt
(26 percent) and a better housing market (12 percent). Though a financial
resolution in Europe remains unclear, only four percent of
respondents want to unwrap a solution to the European debt crisis,
showing that Americans’ focus is primarily on economic issues at home.

When it comes to a financial gift for themselves this holiday season,
Americans appear torn between treating themselves now and saving for
their future. Almost a quarter of Americans (22 percent) say their top
wish is for money to pay for a vacation or buy something for themselves.
However, almost as many (21 percent) wish to have more money for
retirement. Retirement savings is especially important among households
with an income of more than $100,000, with 39 percent saying additional
money to put toward retirement is the gift they most want to open this
season.

According to Carrie
Schwab-Pomerantz, Charles Schwab & Co., Inc. senior vice president,
CFP®, saving for retirement and enjoying some flexible spending now
aren’t mutually exclusive. “It’s really about finding the right balance
of spending and saving that fits your unique budget and situation,” says
Pomerantz. “A smart way to approach holiday spending is to crunch the
numbers and avoid creating significant debt. Keep holiday spending in
check relative to your long-term retirement savings goals, which should
be at least around 10 percent of your annual income.”

Additional findings include:

When looking back on the past year, 36 percent of those surveyed say
their employment status or that of a family member had the greatest
impact on their financial decision making, and 50 percent of
those ages 18 to 34 feel that way. One in five (20 percent) Americans
say that the presidential election had the greatest effect on their
financial decisions. Another 12 percent of people say the real estate
and housing market had the greatest influence on their financial
decisions in 2012.

According to the survey, the most uncomfortable topic for Americans to
discuss with their family members this season at the holiday dinner
table would be the cost of healthcare expenses for aging family
members (28 percent), followed by the amount of money spent on holiday
gifts (14 percent) and saving or paying for college (13 percent).

Investors can visit SchwabMoneyWise.com
for resources and tips on budgeting
and setting financial goals
throughout the holiday season and beyond. For one-on-one financial help
and guidance, visit Schwab.com, call 800-435-4000 any time 24/7, or
visit a Schwab branch.

About the Survey

The Charles Schwab Retirement Survey was conducted by Koski Research
between October 31 and November 5, 2012, using Random Digit Dialing of
listed and unlisted numbers, with 20 percent of the sample reached by
cellular/mobile phones. Quotas are set to ensure reliable and accurate
representation of the entire U.S. population ages 18 and over. Results
of any sample are subject to sampling variation. The magnitude of the
variation is measurable and is affected by the number of interviews and
the level of the percentages expressing the results.The study’s
margin of error is +/- 3.1 percent.

About Charles Schwab

The Charles Schwab Corporation (NYSE: SCHW) is a leading provider of
financial services, with more than 300 offices and 8.7 million active
brokerage accounts, 1.6 million corporate retirement plan participants,
851,000 banking accounts, and $1.9 trillion in client assets as of
October 31, 2012. Through its operating subsidiaries, the company
provides a full range of securities brokerage, banking, money management
and financial advisory services to individual investors and independent
investment advisors. Its broker-dealer subsidiary, Charles Schwab & Co.,
Inc. (member SIPC, www.sipc.org),
and affiliates offer a complete range of investment services and
products including an extensive selection of mutual funds; financial
planning and investment advice; retirement plan and equity compensation
plan services; compliance and trade monitoring solutions; referrals to
independent fee-based investment advisors; and custodial, operational
and trading support for independent, fee-based investment advisors
through its Advisor
Services division. Its banking subsidiary, Charles Schwab Bank
(member FDIC and an Equal Housing Lender), provides trust and custody
services, and banking and lending services and products. More
information is available at www.schwab.com
and www.aboutschwab.com.
Investment products offered by Charles Schwab & Co., Inc. are not
insured by the FDIC, are not deposits or obligations of Charles Schwab
Bank. (1212-7928)